Housekeeping...

Hello Friends,

     I hate cleaning. For those of you who have known me over the years, you can agree with that statement. It's not that I'm unwilling, most of the time. I'm generally willing to help clean up messes, especially outside of my own home. But, when it gets to working at home or cleaning my room... forget it! Let's not even get into organization skills... I always have the desire, but never the motivation or know how.

     When I came on staff here in Vegas, I became head of our housekeeping and hospitality department. Talk about a shocker. My first month or so on staff here I felt nothing but inadequate for the job at hand. Who was I to be in charge of cleaning a base that, over the summer, would host over 60 people at a time?! Who was I that even though I've always struggled with any sort of organization or motivation to clean my own spaces was left to make sure that this building was well kept and stewarded well? I remember sitting at my desk almost daily, with my head in my hands thinking "Daddy, I don't know how to do these things! How do I even start?! Jesus, give me grace!!"

     It was a stressful time, to say the least. But what I forgot is that God not only qualifies us for what we're doing when we serve Him through our adopted authority, but he gives us what we need to accomplish the practical tasks before us. Since I've started working on the hospitality and housekeeping I've created a calendar for all of our guests that stay on base (students, teams, guests, speakers, etc.), I've recently organized the janitors closet so is more functional, i'm getting deep cleaning projects done and the most miraculous part of it all? I'm enjoying it. If you're my friend on facebook you've probably seen that I've even made a video of celebration after organizing the closet. It's something that I enjoy now.

    Will I enjoy it forever? Probably not. But I'm confident that while I'm here, serving in this way, I will be given the grace to enjoy how I serve Jesus. I will be able to live in Joy that even things like mopping floors and scrubbing upholstery is a blessing to the ministry here in Las Vegas. I can move forward knowing that while my solutions and organization may not be perfect, I'm doing my best to improve anything I can.

     I think I used to question that God gave situation specific grace to people. But, now I'm truly proof. He didn't just give me mercy in this situation. He's not jut giving me enough to barely scrape by, but he's giving me above and beyond what is necessary to complete my tasks. I'm not just able to do what I must, I'm happy about it. And while I have my down days, where I don't feel like even thinking about a mop, overall I can say that Jesus is good and He has made me qualified for this position.

     When I first started this position, heck when I first moved here in general, I felt so unsure and so "unsafe" you could say. Not in a physical manner, but there was a certain security I was lacking. But i'm learning that I can find my safe place in Him.

     Yep, there's my wordy mess for now.
      I hope whoever reads this is encouraged that whatever seemingly tedious task is before you can be achieved with joy and authority. Just ask Jesus for His grace to abound in you through that job! You'd be surprised how little things can excite you after that. :)

Blessings and courage be sent to you,
Jackie Poole 

Fully Adopted.

[Adopted]
1. Legally take another's child and bring it up as one's own.
2. Take up or start to use or follow (an idea, method, or course of action)

     Since I've moved to Las Vegas, the Lord has been after my heart hard core. During my Discipleship Training School, I thought that I had gained an understanding of the difference between having an orphaned heart and having an adopted one. Turns out, those 5 months were just the tip of the iceberg of things God had to show me about this.

     Turns out, I've lived most of my life as an orphan. Now, don't get me wrong - my parents have always loved me and supported me in the best of times and the worst of times. But I allowed the devil to speak identity into me and I allowed him to to declare my worth. Worst part? I believed him. I used to believe that what other's thought of me was important and worth worrying about. I had a fear of man that controlled me. I believed that I not only could I disappoint God, but I did so frequently. I felt that just by being myself that I was more of a liability for God's kingdom than an asset, let alone a royal. These, among others, were the lies I held so tightly to. The lies that I said my morals and self worth were based on. 

     It's now been a year since I began my DTS and God has been drilling into me this entire time about how I am not only in His kingdom, but an adopted princess, a chosen royal, an authority in this world. I've been researching online, reading books and receiving council on what being an adopted royal means. And I'd love to say that it's an easy transition from a beggar in the courtyard to a princess in the palace. But the honest truth is that it's been a constant struggle.

     Sometimes I still think that God is disappointed in my performance because other people are.  Sometimes I still think that if I don't constantly serve Him and if I ever say "No" that I'm letting Him down and not doing my job. I still find myself insignificant. I still struggle with thinking that my skills and talents aren't worth half a penny or anybody's time. The truth is that God is always proudly cheering me on, proud of who I am and what I do, He says it's okay to say "No", because rest is important. God declares me significant, talented, skilled and qualified to serve Him in the positions I've been put in, no matter how comfortable that leaves me. 

     All this to say, I'm still learning. Daily I find myself enamored with who God is and just how deep His love and adoption is for me. There is nothing he keeps from me as an adopted child, no privileges that I don't get. He puts it all on the table. He gives it all. He accepts it all. 

     For some this may be the most basic of ideas. But to me, it takes allot to sink in. It's still not fully absorbed. I constantly question things, but I constantly hear the Lord say "I am your daddy and I keep no good thing from you!" and "I am your daddy, find comfort in my love." I think so much of my life I've focused on Jesus as my lover, but now I'm starting to see Him as a Daddy too. A poppa that never fails, that never forgets, that is always there, that never expects a performance. A daddy whose arms I can crawl into and sing with for hours.

     Perhaps this blog post is pointless to most, but to me... it's everything. I've just been so enraptured by how deep it all is. God is so good, so Holy, so worthy. He is SO WORTHY of it all. I am amazed by how truly good and worthy He is. I could ramble about it for days. I could type about it for months. Guys, I AM FULLY ADOPTED. I'm not a half child of Jesus. I'm a full royal. Drenched in the Father's love. I'm still learning what all that means, but it's a glorious adventure.

     The more I understand all of this, the more I understand why the entire world needs to hear about all of this. The streets of Las Vegas, the streets of Nevada, the streets of this nation, the streets of the world are full of sons and daughters of Christ who could have suffered the lies of the Devil telling them that they're never going to be good enough for God's love. That they're not worthy. 

But they are good enough and they are worthy, thanks to Jesus. 

I want to tell them all about my Daddy and how good He is. 

That is all... for now. 

-Jackie

Newsletter June/July 2013

Mission Adventures

     Around 3 weeks ago, we hosted our first team for Mission Adventures. We had two youth groups join us for the same week: One from North Carolina and one from Georgia. Together, with our summer staff, we had 55 people running around. They arrived on a Friday night and our busy week for them began on Saturday morning. We spent the first part of the week training them in evangelism and bringing them out to practice it. The last part of their week was spent in multiple outreaches, a 10/40 window teaching and intercession for world hunger.

     Though it was somewhat of a struggle to get the kids comfortable with approaching strangers for evangelism, the week turned out great and lives were changed. These crazy, radical teenagers turned themselves to God and left their fear of man at Jesus’ feet. Through their decision to obey God’s word to go to all and preach the gospel, crazy things started happening. These teenagers jumped all in, they made themselves available and ready to serve. Through their passion and zeal we saw over 20 people supernaturally healed of different visible health problems, a large number of people come to Jesus, so many people loved on and we saw 46 teenagers from the east coast lay their lives down from Jesus and experience Him in a new way.

     There was a young girl, Anna on the team from Atlanta, who told me on the first day “Jackie, I’ve been praying for boldness for years. But I’m too shy to talk to strangers and God just never seems to give it to me.” By the end of the week I stood by her, in awe, as she asked to pray for a man who was called “Ogre” (and for good reason!). She was bold. She was changed. I was blessed to be witness to a a scared little girl who was stepping into her armor and stepping into life BOLD and ready for more!

    Often I ask myself why God has chosen me to work with Mission Adventures, then God reminds me of people like Anna who realized God’s love for her and stepped out in her faith to make the first of a lifetime of radical love acts for Jesus. I am so encouraged that I get to witness the metamorphosis of complacent teenagers into passionate, loving, radical warriors for Jesus. I get to constantly pour into the body of Christ in America through serving the summer staff and the teams that come through this base. I’m thankful that I have such awesome support from home, so that I am able to stay here in Vegas and serve God through serving His church.

 

FAITH DAY

     This past Thursday, the summer staff and several of the full time staff did what we call a “Faith Day”. We go out in groups of 2 or 3 with the plan to proclaim the gospel publically and to trust God with something big. We are not aloud to bring any money or credit cards. We are only able to bring an ID, Bible, Water bottle and a cell phone. I was on a team with two of our summer staff Alexa (who is 21) and Tyler (who is 17).

     My team was dropped off by the MGM hotel & Casino. Since it was 7-11-13, that meant that 7-11 had some free slushies to give out and we were excited to use it as an evangelism tool. We stopped, prayed to ask God for direction, pictures and words then we talked about what we heard and headed to get slushies. We got our refreshments and stood on a nearby wall to proclaim to people about our Jesus. My group had an advantage – we had slushies as a creative tool to share God’s love because “7-11 is giving out free slushies today. They’re free, they’re refreshing, they can bring you joy. Just like Jesus’ love for you. It’s free, it’s refreshing and it will bring you joy!” For 20 minutes, the three of us took turns sharing the gospel of Christ through something as simple as a frozen beverage. When we turned around to leave and saw the store, we were thrilled – there was a line out the door and down the steps. Which, means that people were listening to us and for the rest of the day they’d be thinking about God’s refreshing love, just like that free slurpee.

     After we were done preaching on the street corner, we headed towards the MGM buffet, because God had given us the clear word to trust him for both supernatural healings AND a free meal. When we got to the buffet, my precious little brother Tyler approached the counter, asked to speak with the manager and explained to him our what we were doing and what we were asking. The manager, Jeremy, told us that he couldn’t give out free meal tickets – for a moment we experienced some disappointment. But then, Jeremy pulled out his wallet and used his personal credit card to pay for all 3 of us to eat at the buffet. We were floored and in tears. Reminded that “If you ask, you will receive” and that when we ask Jesus for blessings, he does not give us a stone instead. God is SO MUCH FUN and he loves to give good gifts to His children. We are His royal, blessed, well taken care of children!

     Before we left the buffet, Tyler went to the bathroom and found a janitor who had a knee problem. Tyler talked to him for a moment and asked if he could pray for him. With his consent, Tyler laid hands on the man’s knee and prayed for God to supernaturally change the make-up of the knee and restore it to it’s proper place. The man felt all the pain leave and immediately took of his brace. The obvious gimp that the janitor had previously walked with was completely gone and he could hop on one leg, with all his weight on his bad knee. Jesus is the great physician.

      So many awesome, crazy things happened on our faith day. An entire book could not hold the stories I have to tell about this day. It all comes down to Jesus reminding us that he is faithful, and through faith we can see crazy awesome things happen in His name. The biggest thing for me to remember is that, it is not an abuse of faith or God’s power to trust him for things like MGM grand buffet. God wants to treat me to special gifts.

     It’s also a blessing to see my summer staff used by Jesus in awesome ways. In ways that they doubted God would or could use them. It’s always a great, great thing to be witness to the growth that takes place when Jesus does super awesome things in another person’s life.

 Anti Human Trafficking:

     Although we are unable to meet throughout the summer, the Anti-Human Trafficking team is still active. I get the privilege of leading a human trafficking themed intercession time every week for our Mission Adventures students. This gives me the opportunity to remain up to date with current numbers and stories.

     It’s such a blessing to be able to share my heart for anti-trafficking, spread awareness of the issue to one of the most vulnerable age groups and then teach teams how to sit at Jesus’ feet and intercede on behalf of the pimps, johns and victims involved. We tend to focus on the problem in Las Vegas, but I’m also sure to look up numbers from their own home state, the nation and world.

     In general, our awareness talks and time of intercession for human trafficking, tend to be very eye opening. On our Mission Adventures teams we usually have a large age range. This last week we had kids ranging from 13-22 years old, not to mention leaders. I’ve only gotten great responses and have seen some gain a fiery passion to do everything they can to end trafficking through a furious love.

     In the future, our anti-trafficking team is looking to continue with our involvement in city wide awareness events, awareness presentations in colleges, public schools and youth groups and we hope to branch out into other areas of abolition here in Las Vegas.

Just Life:

     Soon, the summer will be coming to an end, which means the end of Mission Adventures. YWAM Las Vegas will be transitioning into their Discipleship Training Program and everyone’s rolls will shift to help accommodate the season that God has led us to.

    I will remain in my position as head of housekeeping and hospitality, I may be involved as staff for the DTS and I will most certainly remain on the anti-trafficking team.

   After MA has finished and the dust has settled, I will be visiting Michigan! I’ll be in Michigan the last week in August for vacation, but while I am home I am hoping to have an evening where family, friends and supporters can come and hear testimonies first hand of all the things that have happened in Las Vegas since I arrived in April.

I am so thankful, to have you all as support. It is a comfort and a blessing to know that I have people standing behind me in my mission here.

Prayer Requests:

·         That I would find a home church, here in Vegas.

·         For lives to change during Mission Adventures.

·         For God to continue to reveal himself to me in new ways, continued growth and learning. 

GRACE CITY! Letter Update April/May 2013

Hey Guys, 

This is the newsletter I sent out to all of my supporters, now you can be in the loop too! 

Not Sin City…

     All across the World Las Vegas is known as “Sin City” but God has declared his furious love for the people of Las Vegas, He sent His son to save the lost here, He has proclaimed His grace and will let it rain. When Vegas was first discovered, it was a place of rest and refuge for weary travelers heading further west. Now, Las Vegas is desert land and restless. But God desires to renew the city to be a place where people come to find grace and rest. When the time of transformation has come to this city, I firmly believe that this place will be known by a new name – Grace City!

Since I’ve Arrived…

     Since starting work in April, I have been trained to run our hospitality and housekeeping department, I have become the right hand woman for our Mission Adventures program this summer and I have become a part of our 6 person team focused on the bases involvement with anti-trafficking ministries. Over the past 2 months the Lord has truly blessed my time, given me opportunities, showed His goodness and allowed me to see His transformation in the lives.

     As head of Hospitality and Housekeeping, it is my job to be the steward of our building and property by overseeing the housekeeping of our base by delegating work duties and executing my own projects throughout the base. For Hospitality, I keep track of laundry, cleanliness and supplies for our guest room, which is used for our Discipleship Training School teachers and guests throughout the year. Through this position I am able to meet allot of new people and share with them YWAM Las Vegas’ heart for this city and explain what we do here.

   Mission Adventures are our week long, full service, urban mission trips that we run for youth & college age groups. The youth pastors get their teams here and we take care of the food, in city transportation, outreach trainings, teachings, outreach materials, locations, debrief times, worship, etc. This summer we have 8 short term staff members who are volunteering their summer to help us run this program and encourage the teens. 

Unexpected Opportunity

     This past week, I was bringing a few of our summer staff to the strip to explore and get familiar with their new outreach stomping grounds.  It was around 8:30pm while we walked on a footbridge between two casinos, over the busy traffic. I saw a homeless man sitting on the bridge, asking for tips. As I passed by I felt God tell me to buy him dinner. So after searching for something delicious and special to buy him, I went and sat next to this sweet man and handed him some hot Stromboli and a soda. I just started with asking him questions. Joey (pictured with me above), is a child of our living God. Who was dropped off in Las Vegas by his sister and abandoned here, no home, no friends, no hope. After sitting on this bridge, willing to do most anything for tips with not many responses for weeks – Joey gave up hope that anyone cared. He gave up hope that God had a plan for him. As we talked, Audrey (one of the summer staff) and myself were able to pray for and prophecy over Joey. He was an instant fountain of tears. His face beamed with joy. In that moment he decided to declare the love of the Lord over himself and claiming the plans that God has for him. It was such a blessing to watch a night of exploration turn into ministry and to watch a sad and hopeless face turn into one of the most joyful smiles I’ve ever seen! 

Anti- Human Trafficking…

     Shortly after joining staff here in Las Vegas a small group of around 6 people formed amongst our staff to restart and further the anti-trafficking ministry that has been such a huge part of this base. We have been brainstorming and experimenting with what could be our niche and what services we can provide to further God’s heart for Justice here in Las Vegas, while still being mindful of what other organizations are already doing. We have had the opportunity to prayer walk some of the more notorious parts of town, we’ve partnered with different ministries and organizations and seeking training for our staff. In May I was able to speak at one of University of Nevada, Las Vegas’ classes. I was so thankful to have the opportunity to speak to a classroom full of Las Vegas locals and raise awareness about the issue in their own backyard.

      I am so excited to see what all God accomplishes in and through us over the next 6 months as we go through our training and experimentation. Currently in our building we have several empty offices and we have invited several local, grass roots style anti-trafficking organizations to take those spaces. It is our hope to create a hub of activity and a community of fellowship for like minded ministries.

     While we have been experimenting with our skill sets and opportunities, we have been looking into possible awareness assemblies at local schools. There are over 300,000 students in the Clark County school district, most of which have no sort of anti-trafficking safety awareness or anything of the sort. We are seeking advice and training of people who have done these things in the past.

     It is my desire to be face to face with the girls more often, very soon. Please be praying that God would go before us and cover this city in his protection. 

Update Video: 1

Definition of Provider.

Pro-vid-er
Noun
1. A person or thing that provides something.
2. A breadwinner

Over the years I've come to know Jesus as my breadwinner and now, more than ever, He is showing Himself true in this way once again. Yes, I work and I always try my best to do whatever I can to generate the income I need to live. However, Jesus is always a gentlemen and he fights me for the check like "Whoa, whoa... this is a DATE! I'm paying your way!"

So, over the past few weeks, I've been working my butt off to save up money for my drive out to Las Vegas and trying to find supporters who can pledge a monthly donation to pay for staff fees. Of course, Jesus just kinda smirks at me and foots the bill once again.

I've been given some house cleaning jobs out of nowhere, that just bless my socks off. And one or two supporters have come out of the woodwork and offered to donate monthly, which blows my mind! I've not yet reached my goal, but to see the beautifully woven story of how these people came to support me, leaves me in complete awe of God's mighty hand. It doesn't matter how hard I work and how hard I try to follow through with different tasks, my Father always finds a way to bless me beyond expectation.

My life definition of provider? Jesus.

He is so good to me and I can hardly stop singing His praises. Everytime someone asks me why I want to return to Las Vegas the "horrid - Sin City" I get excited and can't help but smile. Why? Because it's my dream and not only is God behind this dream %100 but so are many of the people around me. It's intense.

I just feel so set free, validated, encouraged and loved on by my Father lately. My life is a bit of a hectic mess, with getting ready to leave and all. But, I just love how he calms and quiets me and gently whispers songs into my mind.

I know that I'm just rambling at this point, I just can't help but be overwhlemed by the goodness of the Lord.
On occasion, I just want to have a whole blog post about how good he is. Why? Because He's good. :D

I hope you have a blessed day,
-Jackie

Long time no see

    Well, it's been forever since I've gotten to my blog and allot has happened. I went to India for 2 months and my heart was broken for the people, my heart was enamored with a girl named Nandhini and I learned and practiced things that will forever hold close. Hopefully in the near future I will be able to give you short stories and memories as a small glimpse into everything God did in India that I was blessed to be a part of.

     I arrived back in Michigan in mid-January and over the past 2 months I've been pursuing my desire to join staff for YWAM Las Vegas. While I was in my training I felt that I wanted to come back, I did allot of "investigating" through my not-so-sly questions for staff and I told God "If this is really what you want me to do, I need it to be clear! Please let someone talk to me directly about becoming staff before I leave for outreach!" He listened to my childish request for clarity and just a few short days before my team hopped onto that plane, one of the staff members approached me and asked me to consider becoming staff while I was gone. I prayed allot during my outreach and as time progressed I felt more and more that I should go back. Upon arriving back in Vegas after outreach, I had my doubts and questions, honestly there were a few things that gave me cold feet. But throughout my debrief week every doubt and fear was addressed through the persistent nagging (in a loving way) and inquisitive conversations that the Staff so wonderfully provided.

    Now I have applied, my references have been sent in and I have officially been accepted as staff for YWAM Las Vegas! It started out that I needed to be there by April 22nd and as if that wasn't a close enough date, it's now been moved up to April 15th. Which means, I'd be leaving Michigan on April 9th. So, in less than a month I will be hitting the road with a friend and driving to Las Vegas!

    I am in the process of seeking supporters. I am in need of financial supporters who can help me reach the goal of $500 pledged monthly, with a minimum of $300 in order to go to Vegas in the first place. This budget covers all my living costs. Rent, Staff Fees, Groceries, Gas, etc. Or even one time gifts are helpful. For more details you can e-mail me at jackiejoypoole@gmail.com

    God has given me a very strong passion for Las Vegas and I'm really excited to return in a short month!

For now, this is all I am going to post about. My goal is to update every 2 weeks.

I know this is a random update - but I thought I'd just throw some of these things out there before things get too crazy around here! :)

The past 3 weeks!

 So, the past few weeks have been CRAZY! So, here's a past 3 week overview.

Week5
Our special speaker was Morgan Perry, producer of the documentary "Sex & Money". Her subject was Intimacy To Advocacy. It was a great reminder to "love the Lord your God" before you start your advocacy in your calling. When you passionately love the Lord and run after a deeper intimacy with Him, then your compassionate and activist heart will flow out of that vertical relationship. If we're just helping to help, without loving Jesus first... we're harming the cause of the Kingdom. The documentary "Sex & Money" is an educational film about human trafficking in the United States. I don't thin people realize how big the problem is here. We like to innocently believe that it's a problem elsewhere and not terrible here, but it is! The film pulls out the truth about victims, pimps and pornography. There is always so much to learn about this problem here! I found this week so educational and encouraging. It's okay to focus on my relationship with Jesus before I act on my call. If I just act without Jesus being first, I'm doing it wrong. Not many people here encourage that mindset. We live in a country of work, work, work and work some more. I know that I had been pulled into that atmosphere and I had forgotten to keep the first commandment first!

This week's outreach was "Viva La Worship!" We went out to the strip with a battery powered amp, a microphone, an acoustic guitar and our hearts turned towards Jesus.We set up and started worshiping, telling testimonies, telling Jesus' story of redemption for us. People would approach to listen to the music and we'd start conversations. As always, I seem to get the crazy people. I had a guy who was not... filled with Jesus, who was trying to convince me that my conscience is God, therefore my own fleshly decisions are acceptable before the Lord. It was an... interesting view. But for others the night went well. We were able to encourage and pray for people.

Friday night we had friends come to stay with us: The WISE team from YWAM, Denver. WISE stands for school of Worship, Intercession Spiritual warfare and Evangelism. They came to pray for our base and this city and they definitely brought a new life here. They were here Friday - Wednesday and it was an awesome time. We were able to join them for outreaches and they took time to get to know some of us and speak over us. They lead some worship here on base and it was an awesome time of fellowship and growth. I loved it.

Week 6
Pat Caven. Such a wonderful woman! Her subject was Sex & Relationships. She focused allot on group relationships, dealing with confrontation, etc. She did touch on "Romantic Relationships" a little bit... but the main focus was realizing why we believe the things we do and confronting the issue within ourselves, with the Lord or with another believer. I was able to speak with her privately one night and just to soak up her knowledge was just incredibly great! She is such a wise woman of God and I'm excited to keep in contact with her!

This week we didn't do a separate outreach since we were doing it almost every night the WISE team was visiting.

Week 7
Hmmnn... what to say about this last week?! Absolutely my FAVORITE! Our speaker was Kenny Peavy and his subject was Spiritual Warfare. We spent allot of the week learning about how the kingdom of hell fights for us and how the Kingdom of heaven defends us. Learning about lies and beliefs that we've taken up as our own that are truly  just lies of the enemy spoken over us. We spent time lifting it up to the Lord, breaking lies and becoming new, without those lies and fears. I was truly set free of the fear of man. Kenny spent allot of time with me the first day, asking questions, speaking into my life, etc. It was so evident that the Holy Spirit was moving this past week. It's so wonderful. Then we spent time lifting each other up. Taking time to tell each individual what you love about them, then asking what the Lord has to say about them. It was really bonding for our team and I feel like we're living a better unity than we were talking about before this week. I learned allot about the warfare that goes on for my mind. I learned allot about how take thoughts captive. SO GOOD! I have been so hungry for this type of material for SO LONG and it is so freeing to no longer be held by lies, fear and religion. I am a free soul, seeing things like a child see's for the first time. I really enjoyed having Kenny as a speaker and I'm excited to get to see him when we go on our mobile tour in October. :)

Our outreach this week was just worship. We just went to the strip and worshiped, some went out to evangelize, I just stayed and worshiped. I saw the strip in a whole new way and it felt so small, unlike the largeness of it before. It was a great experience.


So, next week we have our Base Director, Richard Thompson teaching on Evangelism. I'm excited for it.

Now is the time I remind you of the importance of giving to Missions. :D
I still have around $1,100 to raise! If you are willing and able, donations are much appreciated. I have teammates who still have much more to raise, so if you'd like information on how to donate for me OR them, just let me know and I'll get you the information.

May God bless you all and rest His Divine favor on your home,
-Jackie

Week 4: Update

Definition:

las ve·gas/läs ˈvāgəs/

A city in southern Nevada; pop. 478,434.

Spanish meaning: The meadows


Hello everyone! How are y'all?  This past week has been fantastic for me! So full of the Lord and His movements in my life and the lives of the people around me. It's fantastic to be witness to all that is going on.

Week 4: Jeff Pratt.
There is so much here to try to explain. He focused on speaking on the father heart of God. Expressing the Father's deep, passionate and longing love for us and the bricks of all sorts we allow to rest between us. It was a very stretching week of dealing with the different problems I had allowed to go unnoticed. It's like I've been soaking my life in a tub of water and tieing little weights to certain problems and parts of my life that I wanted to drown out and forget. Not to "Ignore the problem" but I thought I had it handled. Obviously, the Lord had so much more for me! Against my every fleshly will we were offered a chance to confess to the group the things the Lord was bringing up to us and to lay it before His thrown. Did I say in front of the group?! Jeff took the time to pray for each of us (he has the annointing of evoking tears) and our classmates took time to pray for us as we became desperate for the love and freedom that the Lord has to offer us. Honestly, I feel such a relief in it all. It wasn't just an "Emotional" week, where because of our situation and a good speaker we were all crying and acting like fools. It was the honest and true movement of the Lord in our hearts, cutting strings and releasing us from hidden weights and closed doors. For me, this past week has been a turning point! Not to say I won't struggle or that I won't go through times of captivity (which he also talked about). But just to say I've started the long and laborious process of renewing my mind for the purposes of my Holy God to come and renew!

This weeks ministry night was something we call "2X2's!" We went out to a certain street just a block or so away from the main strip, where allot of "Adult" focused stores, masage parlors and people lurk around. We went in groups of 2 to walk the streets and offer conversation, prayer and encouragement to anyone who would take a moment to listen. It was after the sun had gone down and we were expecting movement. I had a sour attitude all day. I don't know why, I had prayed that the Lord relieve my numbness to the situations around me... but I was just in too fowl of a mood to even wait for His blessings. We walked around and there was almost no one. So, as we walked we prayed for whatever came to mind. Las Vegas was originally a watering hole. A place where weary travelers would stop to rest and be refreshed.  God is longing for this city to not be known as "Sin City" but for His people to flood these streets and bring back the original purpose of Vegas. To refresh the spirit. To bring rest and re-cooperation. No one is going to bring the pendulum swing back to restoration if God's people won't! And best part is, it's not just Las Vegas. God wants to celebrate in every city and country road! He wants His children to feel His passionate longing for their hearts and have a relationship with them.

So, in evaluating this past week, it has been exhausting! Realizing that i had so much pent up that was creating a wall between my Father's passion and myself. I cannot wait to see what the Lord will do next.

It's been almost a month that I've been here! Wow. A month. Just two more months and I'll be in India! Wow. India. Dream so close to being accomplished.

Prayer requests:
1. That the rest of my outreach fee's will be provided ($1,200 to go)
2. That the Lord would continue to minister to my soul through fellow students, staff members, Speakers and His own glorious word.
3. Energy! It's so easy to doze off when you're sitting in a florensant lit conference room for most of the day, I need energy to stay awake and absorb as much information as I can!!
4. Opportunities to pour out into the Locals while we are here in Las Vegas.
5. To find a chuch; we are required to attend a church while here in town, so I would like to find a temporary home.

I hope y'all have a great week and I hope to blog again soon!
-Jackie

So far...

Sorry this has taken so long everyone! There's been allot going on, so it's been difficult to try to get everything together to write a post and actually have time and internet to post it! So, here we go... a week by week run down of what's gone on so far!

Travel here was awesome. There were frustrating moments, like the kids behind me yelling and not having the cell phone number of the person who was picking me up. But the Lord is gracious and I found who I needed to to and got to the base safe and sound. 

The first week was orientation week. I feel like it lasted forever! My team got over the "awkward" I just met you phase really fast. We were all on base by Sunday night and by Monday night or Tuesday morning we were all pretty comfortable. I'm extremely blessed to have a team with whom I can be myself and not feel uncomfortable with. We went over rules and why we have discipleship before we do ministry. The Friday of that week we were able to go out to see the "two sides" of Vegas. We went to the strip and explored through the Belagio, Aria, Cosmopolitan, etc. I loved it. But I'm a city girl. 

Here are some pictures in the city (Photo credits to my friend: Katie Greenfield)

Then we were able to go out into the dessert to go to Lake Mojave and swim/cliff jump. We went down the wrong road and ended up getting stuck, in the middle of nowhere. It was slightly terrifying. 

Yeah. We eventually made it to the lake and life was good with some minor dehydration and lack of water! :) 

Week two we had a speaker, Paul Childers. He spoke on "Hearing the Voice of God" and it was awesome just to start out training focusing on how to hear the Voice of God and how to confirm the things that people speak into you. Ministry is every Thursday night, this week we went out to Fremont (the old strip, where allot of locals hang out) and we offered free prayer to anyone who would listen. 

Week three we had another special Speaker Les Hall. He spoke on missions and world view. There was allot of information thrown at us and allot of stuff to learn. But it was good to see some statistics and such. 

We just got done with week four and I need more time to process. 

So, I'm on my way out.... I'll blog as soon as I can again! 

Coming soon...

Well, Ladies and gentlemen it's been ages and a day since I've updated you on anything going on with what the Lord is doing within and around me right now. SO: Because it's allot to fit into text, and It's fun to mumble around allot... VIDEO updates will be coming. Hopefully by tonight. Today is an off day of classes, so I'm thinking i'll be able to fit it in. Keep an eye out and be sure to watch the video when it's posted. :)
Blessings and Favor,
Jackie

Songs that have grabbed my heart lately and may or may not bring me to tears... every time. 

"How Great Is Our God" World edition from the Passion 2012 conference. This one never fails to create tears. It's a beautiful, musical representation of what our daily living should be. Intertwined with all communities, all races, all cultures for Jesus sake. :)

Kari Jobe - The More I Seek You. This is one I've known and loved for a while and every time It gets stuck in my head and I sing along, it continues to be a special moment with Jesus. 

Jesus Culture - Where You Go I Go. This one is self explanatory.

Owl City - In Christ Alone. This is one my favorite hymn and this is definitely an awesome version. The artist was being scrutinized about where he stood in his personal faith. He said nothing, but released this as a new single. I agree. No statement needed, simply see my life and listen to my words. I pray that's enough.

 

There are many, many more. But that will do for now. Oh how I love my Jesus. He is the only one who makes me a valid, useful and worth while human being. Without Him, I am nothing. 

Blessings, 

Jackie

Jesus Sightings...

So, in the process of getting ready for my DTS I have been blessed to see the divine hand of God going before me and working all things together for my good.

During this past month I had a garage sale as a fundraiser. There was a joint garage sale with some friends who are going to South Africa this summer (Check out pathtoafrica), then the weekend after that I had a garage sale "on my own." The location of roung 2 for the garage sale was a friends house from church, she was going to be out of town and her garage was empty. She has been wanting to remodel her house so that her mother could move in with her, but the permit didn't go through in May like she had hoped. The community that Barb lives in has an anual community garage sale. So, Barb gave me the keys to her house and told me to have the garage sale there... she was sure that I'd be able to sell allot of stuff. So, it was a sweet moment to know that her permit hadn't gone through, but she was planning on remodeling (so her garage was stripped bare) and she just so happened to be out of town during the sale... all orchestrated by God so that I could have the opportunity to make a couple hundred bucks towards my mission. Barb is such a blessing, too! She helped organize items, helped set up, the final pack up. She is an extremely helpful woman and it was a blessing that she offered her home and help to me. I saw Jesus in her.

The same weekend as Garage sale #2, I had a Momo party (in place of a spaghetti dinner). Not very many people came, which was dissapointing. BUT it was a blessing that those who came were extremely generous and it was great to see them. I think it was the most humbling experience to have many of the Nepali my mom works with come to help make momo, set up, cook, serve and then stay until all the cleaning was done. Then, not only did they serve me in that way, most took it upon themselves to donate financially as well. I was blown away. The sense of community and giving that these people have towards one they claim as their own is an astounding thing to me. I hope to help raise a generation more like them in that way. I saw Jesus in them.

Then, in general, it was a huge Jesus sighting just to receive any donations.
Over the past several months I have been planning on attending this training and yet no money was coming in. I was saving every last penny I could, but it wasn't meeting the massive goal. I was starting to get doubtful and seeking other opportunities. I knew God wanted me to Go to Vegas (I already had bought the plane ticket, I know that wouldn't have happened with peace if he didn't want me to). But, there was just so much darkness in the financial cloud that was hanging over head. Then, in a matter of 2 weeks, I get $2,500 which, is only around 25% of my total goal. But to go from almost nothing to $2,500!! Incredible. The Lord, is in fact, a sudden God.

I am so extremely excited for this trip! I still have so much to do and so much to get around. Packing, cleaning, more fundraising, spending time with family and friends before I leave. SO MUCH TO DO! It get's really overwhelming at times. It drives me insane and sometimes I just want to cry and give up. But the lord is a reassuring God. He is the ultimate provider. The complete healer and he dries all my tears as long as I trust in Him for my salvation and rest myself underneath His mighty wings. He is a good God, a loving Lord and He shows himself to me abundantly!

-Jackie

Lately...

Well, it's been forever and a day since I've posted. Here's what I've been up to:

1. Working. I work at the local Christian homeless shelter for women and children and it has been stressful. In the summer our numbers go up and with them go the stress levels. It's nice having co-workers who are fellow believers, it keeps things a so much less dramatic. Last weekend I was involved in the decision to ask someone to leave the shelter, they were very upset and disrespectful on their way out. The biggest thing that stuck to me was "It's like your goal is to kick me out!" Later I went to her partner in crime (who was allowed to stay because she was more respectful and peaceable when she was corrected), and I asked her "You don't really think I WANT to kick you out do you?" It was the perfect doorway to a whole new conversation about her walk with the Lord. I was able to give her scripture verses, to encourage her, listen to her story, tell her some of mine and pray with her. Then, last night... I found out that she asked Jesus to be the Lord of her life again. Just to give him control of her problems, her blessings and her life all over again (which, from what I understand she hasn't done since she was 16). Small victory? Yes. But one that my heart relished in. One that made me want to jump for joy at the sliver of hope that was shining in her eyes! There are extremely bad days at work, days I wish I could walk off site and never come back. But then there are moments like that where the Lord reminds me "For such a time as this, you were meant to be here!" It makes everything seem worth it.

2. Stressing out! It's now only 42 days until I fly to Las Vegas for my Discipleship Training School! Funds are coming slowly and it's wigging me out! I am more than sure that the Lord has ordained that I go on this trip, to go and preach his freedom to the captives. But my human logic says "HOW MUCH MONEY?! HOW LITTLE TIME?!" It's hard to overtake my brain with a simple word like TRUST. I've cried, I've talked to Jesus and friends. Over and over again I've been reassured of my purpose. It's just allot to think about. There's also so much packing, cleaning and prep I need to do in this next month+.

3. Fundraisers. Last weekend and this weekend I ran a garage sale (last weekend with some friends, this weekend just for my trip). Allot of people donated allot of GREAT items for me to sell. I am very thankful for those people. Combining both weekends I was able to make around $300 for my trip. Blessing. Today was the last day of the sale and a "momo party!" Momo is a dumpling like food that is extremely popular in Nepal. So, it will be a common eat for me when I am over there. My mom works with allot refugees from Nepal and I was incredibly blessed by them! They helped buy the food, prepare, cook and serve it and also helped clean up at the end! It was incredible! I would not have made it happen without their eager, blessing and able hands to aid me. I am blown away at the power of community that they have, which, America lacks.


I'm so very excited, terrified and not ready for this whole thing to happen! Yet, I know that i will be in time. God doesn't give us anything that we cannot handle and even though I've had my almost breakdowns, His yoke is light and my burdens are few.

Every time I hear a story about trafficking or I speak with someone who just doesn't know much and is just learning... my heart leaps. My heart breaks. I am reminded.

In Nepal, there is a cast (where you are born into your job type, level of wealth, etc.) where the women are assumed to be prostitutes and men pimps. When I first learned this, my heart shattered. Today I learned that there is someone I know who came from this cast, but now lives a redeemed and prosperous life apart from that label she was born into. Hearing this, knowing this... will possibly give me the strength I need to work through blood, sweat and tears to get to India & Nepal. I will fight for these people. I will love these people. If I have anything to say about it, they will not leave this earth not knowing the unconditional, incandescent love of Jesus Christ through me. I pray only I am used.

Often, when I talk to people about trafficking. It's allot of facts, statistics, what I want to do, how I want to get involved, how common it is, how it can start. It's allot of talk. I often sound disconnected. But I promise you, I am not. I push off the fire that stirs in me because, I'm pretty sure people would be scared. I am so entirely drenched in the passion of Jesus Christ and His heart for each and every of the 27+ million enslaved, that I wouldn't be able to communicate very clearly.

For now, that is all.
Praising the name of the Lord and thanking Him for His provision!
Amen and amen,
-Jackie

Coffee Date: Long awaited update

Well, it's been forever since I've blogged. Here's why:

In the beginning of May I was reaching the end of my computer warranty. There were several quirks with the cosmetics and software, so I figured I'd bring it in and get what I could fixed. I completely dread the thought of handing my computer over to geek squad, they've only ever done me wrong. Long story short... they shipped my computer to headquarters, I got it back in awesome condition, then it didn't start that same night, I brought it back in, and now I have it back... yet again. I hope things actually work this time... I can't afford a new computer and I no longer have a warranty. Lord, give me wisdom to keep this laptop safe and meticulously cared for!

In other new, I was accepted to YWAM Las Vegas for the Abolitionist DTS. If you're friends with me one Facebook, then you are more than aware of my acceptance. I am so utterly ecstatic! I feel so reassured by the Lord and so excited to see what more He has in store. I will be able to go to this 6 month Discipleship Training School, which will be half in Las Vegas for a lecture phase and half in India/Nepal ministering and following the trafficking trails for the sake of rescue and restoration.  Here's a video about the training: http://vimeo.com/38177301 I have something like 73 days left until I leave, and I still have over $7,000 to raise! [If you'd like to donate, you can go to http://www.ywamlasvegas.org/donate.html use paypal, and in special directions put "For Jackie Poole DTS"]. I'm taking as many extra hours as I can at the Mission and trying to pick up as many babysitting and odd jobs as I can to earn money for this school. It's quite stressful having so much to earn/fund raise.. but I know that the Lord is faithful to complete the work He has started here.

Really, right now... allot of my world is focusing around everything I need to do to get to Vegas. Cleaning, packing and organizing my room, packing to leave, raising all the money, finding airline tickets, trying to spend time with people before I leave. That's not even half of it. Oy vey... so much to do.

God has really just been romancing me with the reality of this calling He has placed in my life. With no sort of leading at all I'll start thinking of how I get to serve in this way and how it blesses me so and I get the type of unyielding butterflies that I've only heard of in love stories. It seems so, far fetched to me that I am doing this... yet it is the reality and the call that God has set before me. <3

I have allot of friends going places soon. Heather (a sweet friend and blogger at http://heatherhallslife.blogspot.com/ ), who is going to Mozambique for the summer. Alex, who is going to work on Mackinac Island for the summer. Joanna and Bethany, who are going to South Africa. Then, before any of them get back... I'll be gone. Sheesh, so much gone-ness.

Sooo... there's my current update!
Anything I missed? No, at least... I don't think so.

Peace and Passion,
-Jackie